Monday 28 November 2016

Arnold, Catharine "Globe: Life in Shakespeare's London"


Arnold, Catharine "Globe: Life in Shakespeare's London" - 2014

I have read a few books of and about William Shakespeare and so far have enjoyed most of them a lot even though I always say a play is written to be played, not to be read.

My favourite of those books is still "Shakespeare: The World as a Stage" by Bill Bryson, one of my favourite authors.

However, this is a great non-fiction book about The Globe, how it first was built in Shakespeare's time and what it meant for the world of acting back then and how it influenced our world of the theatre today.
I love reading about historical times but the Tudor times belong to my favourites. There was just so much going on, the world was about to change. The world of great rulers was always the world of great art. And no matter what people say about Elizabeth I, she did a great job in a man's world and with her encouragement, the theatre flourished.

We learn a lot about the theatre here, about Shakespeare's plays, Shakespeare's life and life in Shakespearean times in general.

Informative, interesting, excellent book about interesting, adventurous times.

Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to visit the new Globe but I am determined that I will during my next visit to London.

From the back cover:
"The life of William Shakespeare, Britain's greatest dramatist, was inextricably linked with the history of London. Together, the great writer and the great city came of age and confronted triumph and tragedy. Globe takes its readers on a tour of London through Shakespeare's life and work as, in fascinating detail, Catharine Arnold tells how acting found it's place in the city. We learn about James Burbage, founder of the original Theatre in Shoreditch, who carried timbers across the Thames to build the Globe among the bear-gardens and brothels of Bankside in 1599, and of the terrible night in 1613 when the theatre caught fire during a performance of King Henry VIII. Rebuilt, the Globe continued to stand as a monument to Shakespeare's genius until 1642 when it was destroyed on the orders of Oliver Cromwell. And finally we learn how, 300 years later, Shakespeare's Globe opened once more upon the Bankside, to great acclaim, rising like a phoenix from the flames.

Arnold creates a vivid portrait of Shakespeare and his London from the bard's own plays and contemporary sources, combining a novelist's eye for detail with a historian's grasp of his unique contribution to the development of the English theatre. This is a portrait of Shakespeare, London, the man and the myth."

8 comments:

  1. This one's been on my TBR list for awhile. We've been by the Globe on our last couple of trips to London, but it's always so crowded we haven't tried to visit. My husband liked the Bill Bryson Shakespeare book too.

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    1. I think if you are only remotely interested in Shakespeare, Shakespeare's life, the Tudors or anything linked with it, this is the book to read.

      I will try to book tickets in advance - sometimes I always recommend - when going to London the next time, the wait is a lot shorter in such a case.

      Anyway, maybe we'll visit London at the same time one day? ;)

      Happy Reading,
      Marianne

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  2. It would be fun to meet up in London, next year though, we're going to Berlin and Munich. Haven't been to Germany since we left it for the last time in 1981

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    1. I also love Berlin. You never know. Let me know when you are going, maybe we can arrange something. Wouldn't that be great?

      Have a great December,
      Marianne

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  3. I should read this. I am reviewing all the retellings of Shakespeare plays as they come out from Hogarth Press. First I read and or watch the play, then read the retelling. I think Bryson's book would only enhance the project for me.

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    1. That sounds like a fantastic project, I'd love to hear more about that. I'm not the biggest fan of reading dramas but have managed quite a few in the meantime. Are the books as interesting as the plays?

      I think both Bryson's book and this one would add to any Shakespeare experience, I begin to understand him a lot better than I did a couple of years ago.

      And I must admit, I am not the greatest follower of blogs, I'd love to read all the posts by many many bloggers, just can't stay on the PC for too long, I'm glad when I finish my blogs which I don't just do for myself but also for my former book club members who like to know what I'm reading. The plus side is that I've met some lovely other readers, like yourself. But I will definitely have a look at your project now. Sounds so exciting.

      Have a great December,
      Marianne

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    2. The project has opened my eyes to many things, not the least of which is how universal are the stories in his plays. And a resounding YES to the books being as interesting as the plays because they show that those stories are still being played out in modern life! Thanks for calling me a lovely reader. I feel the same about you which is why I keep reading your blog!

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    3. But of course you are, the conversations we have on here are always wonderful, whether they are about the books we read or other topics.

      And I will certainly look for those books. Same as you, I think Shakespeare is a forever author, same as many classic authors, their books don't become classics by mistake, they become classics because they are so much better than others and often mean something for people born a lot later than those authors have written their last words. They always mean a lot to me.

      Looking forward to further chats,
      Marianne

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